The win punctuated the second and final exhibition game for the Blue Hose after downing Lander last week, 85-65. PC begins the regular season on Friday when the squad hosts Montreat at the Templeton Center. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.

The Blue Hose shot 49.1 percent from the floor thanks to a 28-for-57 performance while holding Belmont Abbey to 17-for-64 shooting for a 26.6 field goal percentage. PC scored 34 of its 79 points in the paint and received 24 points from its bench.

Khalid Mutakabbir (Suwanee, Ga.) scored a game-high 18 points while Pierre Miller (Warner Robbins, Ga.) added 16--scoring all five field goals from beyond the 3-point line. Mutakabbir converted on eight of nine field goals on the night and went a perfect two-for-two on three-point attempts, while also leading the team in steals (two) and blocks (one) and grabbing six rebounds.

Al'Lonzo Coleman (Charlotte, N.C.) collected nine rebounds in 13 minutes of action to match a game-high in that category. Eight came in the first half and all came on the defensive glass. The senior forward also contributed six points and dished out a game-high four assists.

Freshman William Truss (Birmingham, Ala.) and junior Ryan Hargrave (Taylorsville, N.C.) each racked up nine rebounds. Truss added seven points on the night as well.

Josh Johnson (Hendersonville, Tenn.) scored eight points and Jay Reynolds (Maryville, Tenn.) added six.

Eleven players saw action for the Blue Hose, with 10 scoring at least two points.

Tyshawn Good led Belmont Abbey with 17 points. Alonzo Long picked up eight rebounds for the Crusaders.

The Blue Hose kept up the momentum from a strong first half with a similar second. PC exceeded a 13-0 first half run with a 16-0 streak early in the second, keeping Belmont Abbey off of the scoreboard for 7:34 and allowing PC to enjoy a 39-point lead with 11:59 remaining in the game.

Mutakabbir scored seven points during the run, part of his nine points in the second half.

The Blue Hose kept up the scoring throughout the half and received key contributions from their freshmen and reserves as the contest wore on. Sophomore Tyler Deihl matched Coleman's four assists in the game, as did freshman guard Eric Washington (Columbia, S.C.). Freshman Mac Lake (Prosperity, S.C.) posted six points as well.

Deihl gave the home fans a play to cheer about late, finding Truss on an outlet pass for two PC points.

PC hit the ground running in the first half, taking the lead at 4-2 early in the game and never looking back. The Blue Hose dominated the opening stanza, as PC's lead swelled to 35 points at one point en route to a 48-22 advantage at halftime.

Miller led all scorers in the first half with 10 points, while Coleman cleaned the glass with eight rebounds. PC shot 56.7 percent from the field in the opening half, including going five-for-11 (45.5 percent) from behind the arc. The Blue Hose held up on defense as well, limiting Belmont Abbey to 7-of-31 shooting at a 22.6 percent clip.

The first half saw a number of bright spots, highlighted by a 16-0 PC run that held the Crusaders scoreless for 4:54. Coleman and Mutakabbir showed off their chemistry as well, as Coleman made a no-look pass in transition to set up an easy Mutakabbir bucket. Mutakabbir then stole a Belmont Abbey pass three possessions later and finished with a spin move and layup to keep the points coming for the Blue Hose.

Washington also provided a top play for PC, creating space with a head fake on a drive in the lane and cashing in on a layup.

PC will open the season with a three-game stretch in over four days, beginning on Friday. After the Blue Hose play Montreat, PC travels to Duke on Saturday afternoon and return to host Eastern Kentucky on Monday night. For fans unable to make the trip to Duke on Saturday, PC will show the game on a 21-foot screen outside of Bailey Memorial Stadium at 4:30 following the Blue Hose football game against VMI.